We Got Let Go, and We're Owning It – Here's How to Secure a Fresh Position That Suits for You
The beginning of a new year can be a period for contemplation, and for a lot of us, that encompasses considering our work lives.
Two publishing professionals who were made redundant from their jobs following company reorganizations initially felt it was catastrophic.
"I dedicated everything into the job... I believed in the values we stood for. Yet, when it came to me, that ethos weren't there," one of them says.
They both decided to say "let go" and argue that being transparent about what happened can help you handle the event.
"People rely on numerous soft terms for job loss. Yet, the sooner you accept it, the sooner you're truthful about it, the quicker you can progress.
"That is the direct path to what you want next," she notes.
Today, they are thriving in new positions, where one leading her own firm and another working as lead editor at a prestigious publication.
Whether you've lost your job or are considering a shift, consider these four methods that can help.
1. Contemplate Last Year
It's natural to feel some apprehension about work post-festive period.
A careers coach emphasizes the value of introspection prior to launching a fresh job hunt.
She encourages people to consider what they desire to increase, what to reduce, and which factors motivates or depletes their energy.
Reviewing your achievements to identify common themes is useful too. "Try not to just looking at the recent past, as people often have a tendency for recency bias that can impede clear thinking," she states.
Another professional states it is important to decide the role of work plays in your life.
This requires being candid about how much time you devote to work and the influence on your social and social life.
After being let go, she recommends preventing yourself be shaped solely by your work.
2. Take Incremental Actions
The advisor states that individuals can make gradual progress for a career transition without committing fully.
She took seven years to move from a corporate role to running a company entirely, developing her idea alongside her job, which meant she could pay herself.
"It required a bit longer, but that represented my approach in a sustainable way," she explains.
She recommends an experimental method.
This might involve pro bono work, participating in a professional project that captures your interest, or agreeing to a new challenge at your present job.
"If it fails, you find out that area isn't for you, but it's better to know now instead of after you've switched careers," she remarks.
She also advises considering interim roles. These may not be the ideal job, yet they function as a step in the right direction, like a job that shares traits to your target field, but in a different field.
"It involves allowing yourself the permission to acknowledge this works for now, but that isn't for all time.
"This is an intelligent tactic to get nearer to that desired transition."
3. Acknowledge Your Achievements
Should you have just left your role, many are in the same boat – job cuts have increased markedly in recent times.
A former editor was the top editor at a style magazine, previously her entire team were made redundant after the company closed the print version.
Realizing that this situation was not a reflection of her ability allowed her to handle the transition.
"Your experience doesn't go away because you were let go.
"Don't give up your confidence, it's important for everybody to recognize their own value."
Another professional lost her job after a decade in a business journal following a regime change in management and the hiring of a different editor.
She stresses that a lot of the embarrassment associated with being fired is internal.
"Given that hundreds of thousands of professionals losing jobs, it's not personal. It's probably not about you, so avoid carrying that burden of shame forward."
4. Build a Professional Checklist
If you're actively hunting for work or are deeply dissatisfied in your current role, it can be tempting to apply hastily for any job – overlooking your own happiness.
But this is a big misstep.
Instead, she suggests a technique known as "reviewing" – focusing your search to only role profiles that seem appealing.
She advises browsing professional networks and collecting several that you like.
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